McAdams says when Thurston saw the blood from the cut on his son's head, he lost control, put Sophie in her crate and shot her.
The two rushed to their neighbors apartment as soon as they heard what happened.

"He knew what he did was wrong and he couldn't take it back, and he was heartbroken," Pullino said about Thurston moments after the shooting.

"He's not that type of person and I know that for a fact," McAdams said.

Crystal tells necn her husband suffers from PTSD stemming from a violent car crash and a house fire back in 2007.

She says he hates himself for what he did to Sophie and to their family. But his friends say they can't blame him.

"It's a very natural parental thing to do is to protect your child first and foremost," McAdams said.

"Lee's a good man. He acted rash and he is getting the help he needs for it," Pullino said.

Thurston got out of jail on $5,000 bail, but Crystal tells necn he admitted himself to the hospital Tuesday night to try and get the treatment he needs. He is due back in court on the charges in April.